ANAHEIM -- Since missing a month with a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee, Angels superstar Mike Trout has hit for average and drawn his fair share of walks, but he hasn’t been displaying the same power he showcased before the injury.
But Trout came through in a big way on Saturday, connecting on a game-tying solo homer as part of a six-run rally in the seventh inning to help the Angels to an 8-2 win over the Nationals at Angel Stadium. It was Trout’s 13th blast of the year, but his first since June 19 and his fourth over his last 27 games since returning from injury on May 30.
“It felt good,” Trout said. “I finally got one down that I could hit. We had a tough one last night and we’ve been playing well. So to provide a little spark there felt good.”
It was also Trout’s first game-tying or go-ahead homer in the seventh inning or later since April 15, 2024, while he had previously gone 4-for-36 with no extra-base hits this year in late and close situations (seventh inning or later, with the batting team either tied, ahead by one run, or the tying run on base).
Trout said it came when he made an adjustment after striking out swinging in his first at-bat. He felt like his swing was getting long and he looked at video with hitting coach Johnny Washington to correct it.
“It’s just my posture,” Trout said. “When I get a closed shoulder and it’s turned, my swing gets long. We saw it in my first at-bat and I tried to make an adjustment. Less is more for me at the plate. In my first at-bat, I missed a heater over the middle I usually hit.”
So it was a good sign for Trout, who moved on to Phase 2 of the balloting for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on Thursday and is aiming for his 12th career selection to the Midsummer Classic. Voting resumes Monday
Trout, 33, has batted .290/.427/.430 with four homers, a double and 13 RBIs while serving exclusively as designated hitter since coming back from the IL.
Trout, a three-time AL MVP, is hitting .231/.345/.447 with 13 homers, two doubles and 31 RBIs in 56 games this year. He said he’s been seeing the ball better recently, which is why he’s been drawing more walks compared to earlier in the season.
“When I see the ball, the walks will be there,” Trout said. “I'm not trying to walk, but I’m trying to get a pitch to drive. And if I don't get one pitch, I’ll take first base.”
Trout’s solo homer came on an 0-1 fastball from right-hander Zach Brzykcy and Trout hammered it a Statcast-projected 400 feet to left field. He’s now up to 391 career homers, which ranks second among active players behind Giancarlo Stanton (429).
“It never gets old,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “He's capable of changing the game every time he's in it and every time he's at the plate. So it’s not surprising. He's been grinding and it's huge to have his presence, both obviously in what he brings offensively, but just in the dugout and around the guys.”
Taylor Ward followed with a double and Jo Adell singled to set the stage for top prospect Christian Moore to come through yet again in a big situation. Moore, who hit both a game-tying homer in the eighth and the game-winning homer in the 10th on Tuesday, connected on a go-ahead RBI single with two outs.
“It was really nice,” Montgomery said. “He was frustrated earlier, too. And again, I keep reiterating it but he has the ability to slow the game down in big moments, and he keeps coming up big in those spots. And we're going to keep putting them out there to do it.”
Kevin Newman followed with his first homer of the year, a three-run blast to left to essentially put the game away. Trout drew a walk in his second plate appearance of the inning before Ward walked with the bases loaded to score another run.
“Mike gave us some momentum, just tying it up as a leadoff hitter there in that inning,” Newman said. “And then we kept it going throughout the whole lineup. Just a next-man-up mentality and scratched together six runs, which was enough to hold onto the lead and get the win.”